Swade Savage Worlds Hardness: A Complete Guide for Players and Game Masters

When diving into the vibrant, action-packed world of Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE), one term that often pops up is “hardness.” Whether you are a player crafting your next masterpiece of armor or a Game Master designing intense, cinematic battles, understanding Swade Savage Worlds Hardness is crucial.

In this detailed guide, we will explore everything you need to know about hardness in Savage Worlds, why it matters, how it works, and tips on using it effectively in your games.
Let’s begin!

What Is Hardness in Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE)?

In the context of SWADE, hardness generally refers to how resistant an object or material is to damage.
While SWADE mostly uses the Toughness trait for characters and creatures, inanimate objects, vehicles, walls, and other constructs often have a Hardness rating that determines how hard they are to damage or destroy.

In simpler words:
Hardness = Damage reduction for objects.

If an object has a hardness rating, it absorbs a certain amount of damage before it is applied to its structure. This mechanic helps represent the durability and resilience of non-living things, from ancient oak doors to futuristic tanks.

Why Hardness Matters in SWADE

Understanding Swade Savage Worlds Hardness is critical because:

• It adds realism to the gameplay.
• It balances encounters involving vehicles, cover, and destructible environments.
• It prevents unrealistic destruction of important structures.
• It gives players strategic options to deal with obstacles creatively.

Imagine a party trying to break down a reinforced bunker door. Without hardness rules, a lucky roll could demolish the door instantly. With hardness in play, the door gets a fair chance to resist.

How Hardness Works in SWADE Mechanics

Here’s how hardness typically functions:

1. An attack is made against an object or structure.
2. Damage is rolled as usual.
3. Hardness is subtracted from the total damage.
4. Remaining damage is then compared to the object’s Toughness to determine if it is Shaken, Wounded, or destroyed.

Example:

• A stone wall has a Hardness of 10 and a Toughness of 15.
• A player deals 20 points of damage.
• First, subtract Hardness: 20 – 10 = 10 remaining damage.
• Compare the 10 damage to the Toughness of 15.
  Since 10 is less than 15, the wall takes no damage.

Without Hardness, the wall would have been badly damaged or destroyed immediately.

Objects and Hardness Ratings in SWADE

SWADE doesn’t provide a massive list of hardness values for every item but offers guidelines:

• Wooden doors: Minor hardness (around 2–4)
• Stone walls: Higher hardness (6–10)
• Steel plates: Even higher (10–15)
• Advanced armor plating: Extremely high (15+)

Game Masters are encouraged to assign reasonable hardness ratings based on the material and situation.

Pro tip:
It’s better to err on the side of toughness for objects that are supposed to withstand damage and lower hardness for fragile or makeshift materials.

Hardness vs Toughness: What’s the Difference?

Many players confuse Hardness with Toughness, but they are not the same.

Think of Hardness as the object’s armor and Toughness as its health.

Using Hardness in Combat

When combat involves objects (e.g., doors, armor, vehicles), hardness becomes essential.

Key Points:

• Hardness soaks damage first, before Toughness is considered.
• If damage after hardness is less than Toughness, the object is unharmed.
• If damage after hardness equals or exceeds Toughness, the object may become Shaken or take wounds depending on how much higher it is.

This adds tactical layers:
Instead of blasting through a wall with small arms fire, players might look for other solutions— explosives, heavy machinery, or magic.

Tips for Game Masters on Hardness

As a GM, you wield hardness to create immersive worlds. Here are some tips:

1. Be Consistent

Assign hardness values logically based on the material and situation.
Steel doors shouldn’t be easier to break than wooden crates.

2. Add Drama

Use hardness to create tension.
A locked, reinforced vault door shouldn’t yield easily. Let players feel the weight of the challenge.

3. Offer Clues

If something is unusually hard to damage, hint at it.
Describe how bullets ricochet harmlessly or swords barely scratch surfaces.

4. Encourage Creative Solutions

When players realize brute force isn’t working, they’ll get creative — sneaking around, using magic, explosives, or leveraging skills like Lockpicking.

Hardness and Called Shots

If players aim for weak spots, how does hardness factor in?

SWADE allows called shots to negate armor but doesn’t directly negate hardness unless the weak spot is specifically softer.

Example:

• Shooting the tire of an armored vehicle.
• The vehicle’s body has high hardness, but the tire may have much lower hardness or none.

Rule of thumb:
Hardness applies unless a called shot targets a legitimately weaker, different material.

Hardness and Magic

Can magic bypass hardness?

Some magic powers in Savage Worlds ignore armor, but hardness usually still applies, unless the spell specifically states otherwise.

Examples:

• A “Disintegrate” spell might bypass both hardness and toughness.
• A “Bolt” would still need to beat hardness and toughness.

Game Master discretion plays a role here. Think about the power’s description and intended effect.

Example Hardness Chart (Unofficial)

Here’s a rough unofficial guide GMs can use for assigning hardness:

Remember, this is just a guideline. Customize it to fit your game’s tone.

Common Questions About Swade Savage Worlds Hardness

Is Hardness Always Used in Savage Worlds?

No. In many cases involving characters and creatures, only Toughness and armor are considered.
Hardness is mainly for objects and inanimate barriers.

How Do You Damage Something With High Hardness?

You can:

• Use high-damage weapons (explosives, heavy weapons).
• Target weak points (if any exist).
• Use magic that bypasses material resistances.
• Outthink the situation instead of trying to brute-force.

What Happens if Damage After Hardness is Zero or Negative?

The attack does nothing.
Hardness acts as a shield—if your damage doesn’t beat it, the object doesn’t even notice the attack.

Final Thoughts on Swade Savage Worlds Hardness

The concept of Swade Savage Worlds Hardness may seem small at first glance, but it adds layers of realism, tension, and excitement to your games.

When used thoughtfully, it:

• Enhances storytelling.
• Encourages creative problem-solving.
• Balances powerful abilities.
• Makes destructive environments more cinematic.

Whether you’re a daring adventurer crashing through enemy strongholds or a GM building intricate worlds full of challenges, understanding and applying hardness properly will make your Savage Worlds adventures even more thrilling.

Keep your dice rolling, your wits sharp, and your world unbreakable — unless your players find the perfect way to smash through!